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Best Alan Wake 2 settings for the NVIDIA GTX 980 (2026)

On a NVIDIA GTX 980 (paired with a balanced Intel Core i5-8600K-class CPU), Alan Wake 2 runs at roughly 61 FPS at 1080p with our optimized settings — up from about 33FPS with everything maxed. Here's the configuration and what each setting costs.

The NVIDIA GTX 980 is a entry-level graphics card with 4GB of VRAM, and Alan Wake 2 is a one of the most punishing games to run on PC. Paired with the Intel Core i5-8600K, it runs well at 1080p — about 61 FPS with FrameCoach's optimized settings, a clear jump from roughly 33 FPS with everything on High.

Across resolutions you can expect around 61 FPS at 1080p and 58 FPS at 1440p, dropping to roughly 33 FPS at 4K. Alan Wake 2 offers ray tracing, but the NVIDIA GTX 980 isn't built for it, so we leave it off. With only 4GB of VRAM, keep textures a notch below max in Alan Wake 2 at higher resolutions to avoid stutter. The biggest free win is FSR upscaling — set it to Quality for a large FPS boost at little visual cost.

ResolutionAll-High FPSOptimized FPS
1080p3361
1440p2058
4K1133
🚀 Biggest free win: enable FSR (Balanced) — about +55% FPS for a small sharpness trade.
Recommended settings
Upscaling — FSRBalanced+55% FPS
Supports DLSS and FSR plus Frame Generation. Practically required for path tracing - the most demanding game of the generation.
Ray Tracing PresetOffsaves FPS
Medium/High enable path-traced indirect lighting - even heavier than Cyberpunk. Even a 4090 needs DLSS plus Frame Gen to hit 60 FPS. Low is a middle ground, or Off for performance.
Global IlluminationMedium+7% FPS
Bounced lighting that defines the atmosphere. High over Epic is the key saving.
Shadow QualityMedium+5% FPS
Shadow resolution and accuracy. High is a solid choice.
Global ReflectionsMedium+4% FPS
Surface and puddle reflections. Notable cost but adds a lot to the horror atmosphere.
Volumetric LightingMedium+4% FPS
Light shafts and fog. Heavy for the look - High over Epic is an easy saving.
Texture ResolutionEpic-1% FPS
Surface sharpness. Needs plenty of VRAM - ease off on 8GB cards.
Post ProcessingHighbaseline
Bloom, depth of field and film effects that define the look. High is a clean trade.
Volumetric SpotlightsHighbaseline
Volumetric cones from the flashlight and spotlights - central to the mood. Medium is a solid saving.
Terrain QualityHighbaseline
Terrain and far-off detail. Mild pop-in when lowered.
Fog DetailHighbaseline
Atmospheric fog detail. A low-risk saving.
SSAOHighbaseline
Screen-space ambient occlusion - soft contact shadows. Medium is a cheap, good-looking option.
Texture Filtering16xbaseline
Keeps surfaces sharp at angles - effectively free, use 16x.

⚡ Fine-tune this for your exact CPU & target FPS →

🎯 Can the NVIDIA GTX 980 run Alan Wake 2? See the verdict →

Alan Wake 2 on other GPUs
Other games on the NVIDIA GTX 980
Frequently asked

What FPS does the NVIDIA GTX 980 get in Alan Wake 2?

With FrameCoach's optimized balanced settings, the NVIDIA GTX 980 averages around 61 FPS at 1080p in Alan Wake 2 — up from about 33 FPS with everything on High.

Can the NVIDIA GTX 980 run Alan Wake 2 at 1440p?

At 1440p with optimized settings, the NVIDIA GTX 980 averages roughly 58 FPS in Alan Wake 2; turn on upscaling or aim for a locked 60 for the best feel.

What are the best Alan Wake 2 settings for the NVIDIA GTX 980?

Turn on FSR (Balanced), keep ray tracing off for maximum FPS, and ease the heaviest options like Global Illumination and Shadow Quality down a notch. The full per-setting breakdown is above.

FPS figures are estimates from a generalized model (hardware tier × game load × per-setting weights), not live benchmarks — real performance varies by scene, drivers and game version.